Scientists at the University of Hawaii and Germany’s Sonneberg Observatory released the ground-breaking study to spark a debate about what humanity should do if we ever received a doomsday message from space.

They stressed any communications should be opened with extreme caution as it could cause an “Extinction or some other unrecoverable global catastrophe”.

Researchers said aliens would rather send the messages as it would be more cost-effective.

The paper read: “It is cheaper for extraterrestrial intelligence to send a malicious message to eradicate humans compared to sending battleships.”

GETTY

KILLER TEXTS: Aliens could destroy mankind using strange methods

Is this CONCLUSIVE proof that aliens visited ancient Egypt?

Many ufologists have been hoarding 'evidence' of alien interference in human affairs. Many of this centres on the time of the pharoahs and ancient Egypt. Could the pyramids have been built by extraterrestrial beings?

1 / 11

Mysteriousearth.net

This coin was discovered in Egypt – could that be an alien being?

They even warned some humans could end up worshipping the aliens as gods after reading the secret texts, by hiding AI inside the message.

It said: “There could be a community on Earth in favour of letting it out for religious, philosophical or other reasons.

“If the AI promises to cure cancer, or offers a message of salvation, a cult could form."

They also warned the being could cause widespread panic that could lead to the eventual downfall of civilisation.

GETTY

OUT THERE: Cults could form around the mysterious beings

Notable People That Have Seen UFOs or Know of Their Existence

According to these celebrities, aliens and UFOs are among us.

1 / 10

Getty Images

William Shatner: is a UFO believer, saying, 'There is no doubt that there is life out there; the mathematics of it lead you to that absolute conclusion. In my mind, there is no doubt that the universe teems - with life in all its form'

“If the AI promises to cure cancer, or offers a message of salvation, a cult could form”

Researchers

The researchers said: “There are several possible threats from an ETI message.

“On the most basic level, a message might represent a statement like: ‘We will make your sun go supernova tomorrow’.

“True or not, it could cause widespread panic. More realistically, a longer test could have a demoralising cultural influence.

“For example, it is debated whether the Roman Empire was destroyed by the Bible.”